Gas-liquid contact apparatus



Nov. 27, 1956 C, A, HUGGms ETAL GAS-LIQUID CONTACT' APPARATUS 13 SheetsSheet 1 Filed March 8, 1954 m y n a n www c. A. HUGGlNs ETAI. 2,772,080

Nov. 27, 1956 CAS-LIQUID CONTACT APARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 8, 1954 l l l 4H Mr Nov. 27, 1956 C, A, HUGGINS ETAL -GAs-LIQUID CONTACT APPARATUS Filed March s, '1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 2,772,080 GAS-LIQUn) CONTACT AiiPAzA'rUs Clifford A. Huggins and C. Thrit, Wichita, Kans.,

' assignors to Koch Engineering Company, Inc., Wichita,

Kans., a corporation of Kansas Application March '8, 1954, serial Ns. 414,573Y

9 Claims. (c1. 251-114) for the washing of gases or in fact any operation in ,which eective contact between gases or vapors and liquids, or vliquids and liquids, is to be ettected. Y,

The apparatus works von. the general principle, already well known, of passinga gas or vapor through a liquid under conditions permitting very intimate contact between gasesl and the liquids. In the present apparatus means are provided for maintaining a 4more or ,less denite depth of liquid on the various contacting decks or plates, which are provided with perforations in the form of fairly good uted on each deck in a predeterminedv co'nguIation;

A further object of the present inventionV is`to provide i sized holes which however are covered or sealed by a gas-liquid contact plate or deck'in which the gas-liftble .covers are restrainedlor biased in sucha way thatlwheriever the amount ofgas ow becomes great enouglivthey will be tilted orvcanted in a, predetermined direction whereby the impingement of thefgase'sfor vapors upon.

y plurality of holesV 27.

Fig. 2, on a somewhat enlarged scale as compared with Fig. 1,;is a vertical section through aportion'througha tower housing a gas-liquid contact apparatus showing twfo superposed decks and' parts of the downcomers and other Vappurtenanqxs connecting them;

Fig. 3 is a cross section through a portion of one 'of the decks on- 'a somewhat enlarged scale to showV certain details; v

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section through a portion of one of-tle'covers used in the construction to illustrate Va modiiica'tion in weight or thickness;VY y

--Fig 5, on a scale substantially the'V same asthatof 3, is a perspective Aview of the means emplyedto' the'upward movement of the covers, being? inthe form of a spider;

Figls'is: a vertical secties throffgu a' ponnfftii sliquid contact device showing a modification, being on the Vsame scale as Fig. 2; v Fig'. 7 is Va partial cross section of the gas-liquid contact device showing a top plan view of a portion of one of the decks, but in a modiied form;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section, on the same scale as Figs. 2 Vand 6, through a modified form of the gas-liquid contact device, showing details of the construction illustrated in Pig. 7; l

Eig. 9, on a somewhat enlarged scale, is a cross section ofdetails of the plate Ycover and lift-limiting means; y

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section of the same portion of the device shown( in Fig. 9;

Figli is a top plan view of a portion of a deck showing auxiliary openings therein; K Fig. 12.is a cross section along the line 12-12 of Fig. 1I, and A 1 fig; 13 is a cross section along the line 13-13 of `1i'ig.12.Y u Y j Referring to the figures, the apparatus may comprise a substantially cylindrical shell 15; which, however, could of course be square or of any other desired cross section. `Supported within this shell are a plurality of plates or decks 16 and 17 (see Fig. 2), which are supported adjacent the peripheral walls of the shell 15 by suitable ledges U18 and 19, 20 and 21. In order to permit ilowV of liquid Afrom one deck to the other, for example from deck 16 to deck 17 and from the latter to the one next below it (but not shown in the drawings) there are provided'downcomers 22 which have, respectively, portions` 23 and'24 which extend above the level of the decks 16 and 17. It will be seen that the lower portion of a downcomer extends almost to the upper side of deck 17 ywhile the .opstanding portion 24 of downcomery extends further above the plate or deck 17, so that when the apparatus Vis, in operation there will be a definite amount of ,liquid YSurm'ounting said holes are a plurality of dished covrs 28'V which .are of `a size that when in position they will Vclose the openings 27.' They are entirelyloose and hence are capable. of being thrust upwardly by gases or vapors existing below the respective plates 16 and 17, depending of courseV upon the pressure thereof. IiiV orderV to'lirnit kthe extent of .the upward movement of the dished' covers Y 27S, suitable means, for Vexample the spidersl 29, vare pro; vided, being affixed to the plates 16 and 17 `by having downwardly extending split legs 30v which pass through suitable openings 31 in the plates where'after the legs are i oppositely upset so. aus to keep the spiders`29 in position.`

Now, in'order to permit of more accurate'control of thervoperation of the gas-liquid contact device, the dished covers 28 in any particular row extending either-horizontally across the plate,diagonally across the.'plate',`o` in sets ofY groups, may be made of different weights, as for example-` indicated in--Fig 4 bythe thickenor 'heavier cover 28'. For example, the lir'st two or -three rows f covers 2S shown in Fig.l l mayjbe of one weight,whilel the next several rows may be of arheavier-,weighgf'so thatat a givenpressure only certain of the covers 28willa. be. lifted; but as the through-put offy the 'gas-liquid coni tact device, for example afdephlegmating Vtower 6r gas washer, is increased, the other'heavier covers'AZS'will also belifted. f e* 7 Under' normal operation the liquid 'coming down asdowncomerni will flow, Yfor example, acrossY tleplates 16 and 17 at about the depth equivalent to the.,A

'and 17 are provided with a directed, being to the left on plate 16 and, for example,v

to thev right on plate 17. As in some circumstances it is advantageous to assist the transport of thefrliquid across a deck orplate, provisions may be made, as-more particularly illustrated in Fig. 6,V to make the spiders`32 with Vsome of their legs longer,l than the others soV that they will betilted as invFig. 6. When therefore thecovers 28 are lifted, the 'extent of their lift will be restrained on oneside (the right side in Fig. 6) but their lift may be considerably greater on the left side so that-the gases or vapors issuing from the holes 27 will tend to escape in greater volume from the left side of the nowuncovered Fholes'27 and therefore Willexert a leftwardly directed horizontal thrust against the liquid ilowing from 'the` right hand downcomer 22, to the left Vhand downcomer 22, of Y :orthe entire tower may be made up of plates such as Vshown in Fig. 2 or in Fig. 6. Y A. It-may be desirable in both types of construction (those shown byiFgL 2 as well as by Fig. 6) to have additional Y means present to give a directional thrust to the liquid nonY the plates or decks.V 'This may be Vaccomplished by providing a portion of the decks intermediate the covered holes 27 with a number of openings 34 as shown in greater `detail inV Figs. 11,' 1,2 and 13. Y YThus the plate 16 may vhavefi'rst formed therein a plurality of slits 35 whereafter `thematerial 36 to the left of the slit is deformed upwardly Y and the portion of the material 37 on the other side of the slit is Y deformed downwardly, thus producingthe opening 34 through which the gas or vapor may pass in V'the direction of the arrowsshown in Fig. l2; Any num- 'ber of these auxiliary thrust providing openings .34 mayM be present on the contact decks.

' "'Theopenings 34, producedby slitting'the plates-fand Vdistorting the metaladjacent thereto, may iber` provided preferably over the whole areas of the'decks'inany desired geometrical pattern, the openings 34 being sorplaced Y'as to impart tothe liquid a more or less Vhoriz,ontalthr'just inlthe directionof the liquid ow, Yso as positively* to urge the hole 27 they will be prevented from rising too .far upwardly by abutting against the strips 41 and 42. The holes 27 in this case are presumed to have' been formed .Y

in plates such as 16 and 17 which are connected with the same kind of downcomers 22 as already mentioned.

In connection with Fig. 8 it will be lseenrthat the lower part of downcomer 22 dips into a suitable trough 45 from which anyliquid overowsionto deck 1.7.1 Thisrtherfore providesy the necessary seal at the bottom of `Vdowncomer 22 to prevent gases from nding their way to the next deck and Vcompels them to pass through the holes l Y y 27 after lifting the covers 3.8.L

Just as has been mentioned'in connection with the pre-Y Y Vvious figures, the covers 38 may Ylikewise vary inweightand be distributed in Vdelinite congurations relative,Y to the extent'of the plates or decks 16 and 17.1 v y l f 1 -Bo'thtypesof constructionimay be usedeitherl inthe same tower, or vthe tower may contain, in addition -tofthek Y` deks Aor-plates asY described inV the presenty invention, otherl contact devices such as plain perforated plates, bubble trays, or theV types of contact .plate described in the patent to FredlQ. Kock No. 2,401,'569,'for in the patent application of C. A. Huggins, Serial No. 243,240.V

The particular advantage -in having the plates so arranged thatthe. covers may be given a tilted position, particularly as shown in Fig. V6, lies in the fact that it thereby lbecomes possible to impart to the liquid on the traysY or deck aY definiteV predetermined direction which serves t0 equalize thepressure of any liquid which lies above the 'covers 28 or 38. Y

It has been found that by suitably arranging a pattern f 'of relatively heavier Yand lighter covers 28 or'738,-;the:exV change characteristics of a given deck may be accurately predetermined and hence adapted toany particular condi'- tion depending Vupon theuse to Vwhich Ythe gas-liquid device isfbeingput. Inasmuch asV the use of graded Weights YVwith increasedr vaporvloads allows denite predetermination offresistance tolthe vaporor gas pressure thisrwill .insurefproper distribution atlow loads and still `provide a Wide range of e'icient operation'with increased loads with- Y .outincurring the risk of undesired rund-back.`v Y.

Vthe liquid to flowgacross the deckror plate.V VThe presence Yof these. openings 34 `will also'serve to-drain the 'decks the openings 34 Vcan be controlled by the amount of upward and downward deformation of the metal ofthe .'plates, Lthusgiving almost any desired degree of ow of Vgasesor vaporsinto theliquid ilowing across the decks.

' The `presence of such=meansto influence the VHow of the vliquidwill counteract any tendency for the establishment` Y ofga;p'erhapsundesired, liquid gradientionthe decks.

Asgillustrated inV Figs. 7 through V10,'the construction may'diier somewhat, while still remaining within the (when, the apparatus isfshut down 'and no gases Yare being V passed: throughi it. It-is evident that Ythe actual size'of 50 I-.By'combining Ythe presently described type of tray orV v deckfwiththe'typeof Vexchange .'devices which do not per-1 mit. the retention of a definite liquid level, it islpossiblejto i construct exchange Vtowers of almost anyvr desired gas-liquid exchange.characteristics."

Vmay vvary fromV one-half inch or so in diameter up to yfour 38,.'vs zhichjextendV into'the holes with .their-.convex sides,

Y acting inmanyV respects as Vdoes arvalve on its seat.V These coversmay Vbe provided with a number, for example 3;V

of peripheral inwardlyfextending Vcut-away l'L'aortionslr39 ,lnstefadfofgusing a separate spiderffor leach opening'gitlie vrn'eansfor keeping'the covers 38 from being lifted toolfar Y may comprise a continuous/ strip 40 consisting of7twos'uit- Y. ably'securedV individualelongatedmetallic4 strips lljanclV Y 42; 'Ihev stripsf 41 tand 42;are partly cut-away as Y best seen in Fig. 9 andthe portions Vthus resulting-are bentVY OutWardIyin' alternately "right and Vleft directions' toform extensions 43 and 44, yas can` best 'be seen;in

or more inchesindiameter.Y f The. material may be of any Y Suitable kind which is notattackedsby thezgasesi'or vapors Y which are to be treated inthe'exchange device. For

most purposes stainless's'teel or aluminum are the, most suitable and 'readilyV available,V but suitable'plastic mate j i rialsmight be employed under conditions where the'liquids f .andY vapors treated havernoV solvent effectk upon the-plastic from'which thezplatesV and coversarezmade.Itmiglt .even be possible :to "combineplastic covers with metallic Y y plates or vice versa, Yor elseto alternateplastic.covers'with metallic covers, thereby inherently-controlling the weight Y Y,

; While spiders suchrfas 271i and those made of'the Y i v 41and 42 have been illustrated, thefinvention isV no'tuto Y be limited tothe` Vuse :of these.particular;'means'.wherewith' .toliinit -the ,upward movementof thecovers-28.jor38,ias

any equivalent mechanicalmeansare.to`befconstrued 1; v Y as fbeing `withinthe scopegand intent ofzthe `tiert-.unto

Selfy evidently thesize of the openings or holes27 and',V Ythe therewith cooperatingrcovers 28; or 38 mayvary wide ly, depending entirely upon the size of the apparatus,V andy f. It:` is usually `preferred that ithe'liquid: elementsY -(i e. the slits 34 "and Vthe ieanta'blecovers '2871 in Figs-v6 to Vl0)be more or le's'sunifgrmly i.

spaced over the tray surface in order that uniform thrust is imparted to the liquid. However, the differently weighted covers and openings 34 may be arranged in any desired geometrical pattern. In operation, and as the vapor load gradually increases, the gas or vapor first passes upwardly through slits 34 and thereafter the vapor first lifts all of the light weight caps and then the heavier caps. Thus uniform operation over the entire tray surface is achieved under a wide range of vapor or gas loads. It will be understood of course that the pressure required from below to lift the caps depends not only upon the weight of the individual caps but also upon the depth to which the cap is submerged in liquid owing across the tray. Thus another way of controlling the opening of the covers is to form the tray in such a manner (e. g. stepwise) so that some covers 28 or 3S and some apertures 34 will be more submerged, and thus openable under higher gas pressures, than others.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to gas or vapor and liquid contact, it also finds usefulness in the art of liquid-liquid contacting.

We claim:

l. A gas-liquid contact apparatus comprising a housing and a plurality of superposed gas-liquid contacting plates therein, downcomers connecting said plates to permit liquid to flow downwardly from an upper and a lower plate, the downcomers being staggeredly arranged so that liquid will ow in opposite directions on alternate plates and means for establishing a normal liquid level on said plates; each plate being provided with substantially circular openings; loose covers for said openings liftable by gas pressure from beneath said plates; means above said covers for limiting the upward movement thereof, said means being tilted to cant the covers when lifted so as to permit more gas to escape on one edge of the covers than the other, the direction of maximum escape being such as to tend to assist horizontal movement of the liquid across the trays.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 in which the covers differ in weight, covers of a given weight being arranged on the plates in a predetermined configuration.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2 in which the covers in one transverse row are different in weight from the weight of those in another row.

4. A contact device comprising a plate with a plurality of apertures therein, said apertures being substantially uniform in size, loose covers for said apertures and liftlable therefrom by fluid pressure exerted from beneath said plate, certain of said covers having greater mass than other covers, means secured to the upper surface of said plate for limiting the upward movement of all of said covers, at least some of said movement limiting means beingl formed to cant the corresponding cover fromva horizontal position when the cover is lifted to -its fullest extent, said certain covers requiring more fluid pressure from underneath for lifting than said other covers, said certain covers and said other covers each being arranged in a predetermined geometrical pattern.

5. A contact device comprising a plate provided with a plurality of groups of perforations, loose covers for said perforations liftable therefrom by fluid pressure,

exerted from beneath said plate, and means for limiting the upward movement of said covers, the covers and perforations of each group being arranged uniformly across a predetermined area in said tray, all the covers of one group being of substantially greater weight per unit area of the corresponding perforation than the covers of another group, the resistance to lifting by said fluid pressure of the covers of said one group thereby being substantially uniform but substantially lower than the resistance to lifting by said fluid pressure of covers of said other group, whereby covers offering said lower resistance will permit substantial bubbling over said predetermined area even though the liquid pressure head is not uniform over said area.

6. The device recited in claim 5 whereinv the covers of said one group are arranged in rows across said plate.

7. The device recited in claim 5 wherein at least certain of said movement limiting means are formed to cant the corresponding cover from a horizontal position when the cover is lifted to its fullest extent.

8. The device recited in claim 5 wherein said perforations are circular and said covers are in the form of concave-convex discs.

9. The device recited in claim 8 wherein the concave sides of said discs face the perforations.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 948,432 Rudeen Feb. 8, 1910 2,061,830 Campbell Nov. 24, 1936 2,428,889 Nutter Oct. 14, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 619,029 France Dec. 23, 1926 682,721 Great Britain Nov. 12, 1952 

